RICHMOND — In the team’s first depth chart of 2019, the Washington Redskins listed veteran Colt McCoy as their first-string quarterback.
Case Keenum, meanwhile, was named as Washington’s second quarterback, while rookie Dwayne Haskins was listed third. The Redskins have not made a decision about who will start Thursday’s preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns.
McCoy, Keenum and Haskins have all had their turns taking first-team reps at quarterback — though McCoy and Keenum have taken the large majority of those snaps. All three have been uneven in their performances as of late.
Coach Jay Gruden typically downplays the significance of the depth chart. Last year, Gruden said he didn’t even make the depth chart and indicated that senior vice president of communication Tony Wyllie had done it. “Did you do it?” Gruden asked Wyllie, who was standing next to him. “You did. Good job, Tony.”
Speaking to reporters Saturday, Gruden said he’s no closer to deciding Washington’s starting quarterback for the season.
“I’d love to make that choice today, but I don’t think that’s going to happen for a little bit of time,” Gruden said. “These guys are all doing some good things. We just got to manage the reps and try to get it figured out sooner than [later].
“But, the way these guys are all progressed and playing it’ll be tough to say, ’Okay you’re the starter, you’re the backup, you’re number three,’ in the next couple of weeks, that’s for sure.”
Gruden said Sunday that not every quarterback will play in Thursday’s game against Cleveland. Washington plans to reveal who will start against the Browns on Tuesday, Gruden said.
So far, Keenum is seen as having the upper-hand in the race as he’s received the most first-team reps and started all 16 games with the Denver Broncos last year. McCoy, though, has been with the Redskins since 2014 and has used his experience of knowing the offense to his advantage.
McCoy has started six games during his tenure with the Redskins — two of those starts coming last year. The 32-year-old is coming off a broken leg and didn’t start practicing again until training camp.
“I feel fine, I feel fine,” McCoy said late last month. “It’s nice to just be back out on the field, and, you know, it’s been a while since I’ve played football. I’m fighting through some things, but just to be out here and playing and taking reps — [I] don’t take that for granted — and glad to be back out there.”
All three quarterbacks have struggled in recent days. McCoy and Keenum have both thrown interceptions, while Haskins has been off with his accuracy. All three have also faced intense pressure from the defensive line as the offensive line hasn’t done a good job in pass protection.
The Redskins open the season Sept. 8 in Philadelphia, and Gruden has said that his team’s quarterback battle might not be decided until the day before.
“All three of them have shown flashes of being really good and really productive and all three have shown flashes of, ’Hey, we’ve got to get better,’” Gruden said.
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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